The Free Patriotic Movement-led Strong Lebanon bloc noted Tuesday that it is “a bridge among all components” and not a “party” to the current standoff over the new government.

“From the very beginning, we considered that the government issue is essential and necessary regardless of disputes and obstacles,” MP Ibrahim Kanaan said after the bloc’s weekly meeting.

“From the beginning, we have called for relying on the results of the parliamentary elections and setting a unified standard to form the government, because there are major requirements and challenges,” Kanaan added.

“The bloc considers dialogue to be the main foundation for overcoming hurdles, and preserving the National Pact and the various Lebanese components is essential for preserving domestic stability. It also believes that any victory that the Lebanese might seek can only be achieved through solidarity between them,” the MP went on to say.

Referring to the standoff over the issue of representing pro-Hizbullah Sunni MPs in the new government, Kanaan stressed that the bloc “is a bridge among all components” and not a party to the current crisis.

Accordingly, Kanaan said the bloc calls for a “quick solution that preserves the principles and values that we have all agreed on,” noting that “preserving state institutions is a win for all Lebanese.”

“The prestige of the state and its institutions is not confined to a certain party. We are facing a critical period at all levels internationally, regionally, economically and developmentally,” Kanaan warned.

The government was on the verge of formation on October 29 after the Lebanese Forces accepted the portfolios that were assigned to it but a last-minute hurdle over the representation of the aforementioned MPs surfaced.

Hizbullah insisted that the six Sunni MPs should be given a seat in the government, refraining from providing Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri with the names of its own ministers in a bid to press him.

President Michel Aoun -- a Hizbullah ally and the FPM founder -- threw his support behind Hariri and rejected the demand during a TV interview, slamming the “use of delay as a political tactic” and insisting that the aforementioned MPs are “individuals and not a bloc.”

Kanaa said: "Don't try to involve us in the problem of Almustaqbal, we have nothing to do with Sunni representation, we can only play the role of intermediates in this issue..."

and he still said: Ever since the begining we have advised Hariri to show solidarity with other Sunnis, because he must respect the will and rights of lebanese voters whom wish to get their own representatives in the Government! We have said from the begining, Hariri cannot exclude anyone. his party cannot monopolize the sunni representation..."

Naharnet distorted the statement of President when it says Aoun threw his support behind Hariri and rejected the demand of Hizbollah, because when it says Aoun slammed the “use of delay as a political tactic” it shows that the president was referring to the one delaying the formation (Hariri is tasked with it not Hezbollah) and about insisting that the aforementioned MPs are “individuals and not a bloc..." that's true he said that, but he also said Hariri should show 'solidarity'... If the President was referring to Hezbollah his key ally, about which kind of 'solidarity' he was pointing to??? Now Kannaa confirms my interpretation urging Hariri indirectly to respect the will of voters and not exclude independent MPs from the formation process.